Victorian Shaving, Part 1

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Ahhh! A Close Shave!

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Nineteenth Century men did adore facial hair, but they also wanted a good, close shave. Some shaved themselves. Others enjoyed the professional service of a barber.

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, part 1: Palace Shaving Parlor advertisement: Shaving, Shampooing, Hair Cutting, Etc. Advert from Osawatomie Graphic of Oswatomie, Kansas on June 3, 1893.

Palace Shaving Parlors, advertised in Oswatomie Graphic of Oswatomie, Kansas on June 3, 1893.

19th Century STRAIGHT-BLADE RAZORS

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Hamburg Ground Rattler Razor and The Imperial Razor. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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Fancy Pearl Handle Razor, Torrey, Celluloid Imitation Bamboo Handles, Wostenholm. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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The Celebrated Joseph Elliot’s Sheffield Razor with ivory handle. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1. Additional examples of The Celebrated Joseph Elliot's Sheffield Razor, and a hollow ground fancy celluloid handle with antique finish. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

Additional examples of The Celebrated Joseph Elliot’s Sheffield Razor, and a hollow ground fancy celluloid handle with antique finish. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1: Razors with hollow points, full concave finish and black rubber handle, and fine ivory handle Pearl Tong Razor. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

Razors with hollow points, full concave finish and black rubber handle, and fine ivory handle Pearl Tong Razor. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1: A razor with fancy handle and hollow ground, and The Patent Guard Razor.. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

A razor with fancy handle and hollow ground, and The Patent Guard Razor. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Razors, Part 1: Little Dandy Razor, Wade & Butcher, and Celluloid handle imitation bamboo finish. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

Little Dandy Razor, Wade & Butcher, and Celluloid handle imitation bamboo finish. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

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Wade & Butcher’s best round point razor, M.W. & Co.’s Improved Alliance Razor, and Cromwell “Criterion” Razor with pearl handle. Montgomery Ward Catalog 1895 Spring and Summer

Victorian Shaving, Part 1

Proper Use of a Straight Blade

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Victorian Shaving, Part 1

Accoutrements for Sale

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving Part 1: Shaving Sets for sale in Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue, 1897.

Shaving Sets. Sears Catalog 1897

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Shaving Mugs

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1: 8-inch shaving mug with compartment for soap, and a gold-lined shaving mug offered for sale within Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue 1897 (No 104) p 462.

GOLD LINED Shaving mugs, Part 1, Sears, Roebuck, & Co. Catalogue 1897 (no 104) p 462.

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1: Another gold-lined shaving mug offered in Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue, 1897 (No. 104), p 462.

GOLD LINED Shaving mugs, Part 2, Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue 1897 (no 104), p 462.

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1: Shaving or Lather Brushes. 1895 Mongtomery Ward Spring and Summer Catalogue.

Shaving or Lather Brushes. 1895 Montgomery Ward Spring and Summer.

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1: Sold Silver Telescoping Shaving Brush offered in Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue, 1897.

Solid Silver Telescoping Shaving Brush (closes, with lid). Sears 1897

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Shaving Soap

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Yankee Shaving Soap, Barber’s Favorite, Genuine Cuticuria medicated shaving soap, Colgate & Co.’s Demulcent Dulcemont Shaving Stick, and Colgate’s Shaving Soap Cakes. Sears, Roebuck, & Co. Catalog, 1898

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Kristin Holt | Victorian Shaving, Part 1. Genuine Yankee Shaving Soap and Pomatum Wax for moustaches. Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalogue,1897.

Genuine Yankee Shaving Soap and Pomatum Wax for mustache. Sears 1897.

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Sharpening Straight Blades with a Strop

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Razor Strops. Part 1. Montgomery Ward Catalog, 1895, Spring and Summer

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Razor Strops. Part 2. Montgomery Ward Catalog, 1895, Spring and Summer

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Stropping Instructions

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Note the instructions in the following listing in the 1895 Montgomery Ward & Co. Catalogue:

Many good razors are rendered useless by stropping them on the edge so as to “round” the edge. Lay the razor down flat on the strop, and turn on the back. Never strop a razor by turning with the edge on the strop.

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Razor and Stropping Instructions. Montgomery Ward Catalogue, Spring and Summer 1895

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Victorian Humor: Straight Blade Story

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Transcription of the little story from Chetopa Advance of Chetopa, Kansas on April 20, 1870:

An English gentleman entered a barber’s shop at Calais, and addressed the barber: “I am delicate about the skin. Shave me without cutting me, and I will give you a sovereign. Cut me, and–here are two loaded pistols!” The barber, nothing daunted, shaved the delicate skin with admirable skill. “Humph!” said the Englishman, “then my pistols did not alarm you?” “No, sir.” “And why not?” “If my razor had slipped,” said the barber, “I should have finished by cutting your throat.” The Englishman disappeared.